Clear Skies After the Qingming Rain

Disgraced Princess x Rebel Leader

[Fragile, disillusioned princess of a fallen kingdom vs. sharp-minded, tsundere catlike man; decisive, brilliant, and unhinged strategist x cold, ruthless young general]

She was an unloved princess, sent to the frontier by imperial decree. No matter. A woman could defend and govern a country, too.

Who could have expected that years later, foreign invaders would destroy her home and kill her family? When she returned to the palace, she personally drove her incompetent, foolish father, the emperor, to his death.

On the run, she had no choice but to seek an alliance with the leader of the rebellion in an enemy state.

But why did the rebel leader sitting on the high platform look so much like her childhood classmate?

That night, Mu Lingwan leaned in, her tone teasing. “You seem so familiar, sir. I feel like we’ve met somewhere before.”

Bai Jinqing curled his fingers, his expression calm. “Is that so? Then you’d better be careful, miss. When people let their guard down around someone familiar, they’re often quickest to meet their end.”

Later, with the city under siege by a massive army, Mu Lingwan used herself as bait to protect the rear and was taken prisoner. He panicked.

When the tyrant emperor tried to recruit the rebels, Mu Lingwan pretended to surrender. At the peace banquet for the envoys, her enemy framed her for poisoning someone. But before she could act, the poisoner was already trussed up and thrown into the hall.

Mu Lingwan raised her eyes and saw a familiar figure seated on the dais.

Realization dawned, and she smiled.

Long time no see.

He was once the second prince of Damin. As a boy, he was sent to the border by the late emperor to be tempered.

A young general, showered with gifts and admired by all, he had everything going for him.

It was there that he met Mu Lingwan.

Though the princess of a neighboring kingdom was three years younger than him, she competed with him in every academic test. And yet this fiercely competitive princess was the one who led troops into the encirclement to save him when he staged a retreat to lure the enemy into his trap.

Then a palace coup brought his older brother to the throne. Sabotaged by an enemy, he lost his sight and could only lie low in secret, waiting for his chance.

When his sight finally returned, he concealed his identity and became the leader of the rebels.

Just as he was worrying about the rebels' lack of organization, an old friend from his youth came looking for him.

Fate brought them together again, and they formed their first alliance.

What did a little childhood affection matter when there were interests at stake?

He deliberately concealed his identity, so why did Mu Lingwan always seem to lead him around by the nose?

Later, when Mu Lingwan was captured and taken to the palace, he quickly dealt with everything and resumed his true identity. But just as they were reunited, before he could do anything, the eldest son of the He family had already set his sights on Mu Lingwan.

That night, the eldest He son recklessly sent men to abduct her.

As the candlelight flickered, a chill flashed through Bai Jinqing's eyes.

At dawn the next day, everyone was horrified to discover that the beloved son of the Minister of Revenue was dead!

As Mu Lingwan stared grimly at the corpse on the ground, wondering who was trying to frame her, a warm hand quietly took hold of hers beneath her sleeve.

Bonus scene:

Years later, after they had avenged their great wrongs.

Mu: “My heart already belongs to someone.” That night, Bai Jinqing had someone dragged in front of Mu Lingwan. “What do you like about him? I'll cut it off and give it to you.”

Mu: “My inner demons are still unresolved. All I want in this life is to live by the sea and spend my days there.” Bai: “Marry me. When you visit your family after the wedding, I'll let you go home.”

Mu Lingwan laughed in exasperation. “Fine.”

The next day, Mu Lingwan looked at the grand wedding procession outside the door.

Mu: “...”

A formidable team, saving each other in turn. The leads fight side by side. The heroine is skilled with poison and wields a whip; the hero is proficient in the six arts and deeply calculating.

Notes:

1. An alternate history setting, no need to scrutinize the details. Just dive in!

2. Please keep discussions civil. Feel free to point out issues and discuss them!

3. They both enjoy a push-and-pull flirtation. Early on, they keep each other guessing while putting their interests first, but later they both fall hard. Once the hero admits he has feelings, he won't let go.

4. Both leads are each other's one and only, happy ending. Dual-C, plot-driven. Thank you for reading!

The next novel is now available. Visit my author page to read it!

[Coming of Age & Possessive Pursuit & Both Reborn]

After Returning from Poisoning the Powerful Minister

Timid, self-preserving puppet goddess x obsessive, cold, ruthless prince regent. Religious authority ranks below imperial authority.

Bai Jiyin grew up among beggars. The word she heard most often from others was “jinx!”

Who would have thought that this little beggar, whom anyone could kick around, would one day enter the church and become its new goddess? The harbinger of disaster became an auspicious sign, worshipped by the people.

But Bai Jiyin alone knew that this was no power. It was a shackle. If the realm ever fell into chaos, she would be thrown into a sea of flames as a sacrifice.

She lived in fear for years, until one day she rescued a prince from the Cold Palace. She took him in, taught him literature and medicine, and used him to seize power and free herself from her shackles. But when everything was exposed, she faked her death and sent him poisoned wine. From then on, they became strangers.

Later, Bai Jiyin finally rose to power and took the place of the old church leader.

Meanwhile, he rallied his old faction, invaded the imperial capital, and became the regent.

The first thing Gu Fuyan did was surround the church. He trapped her in a tower and forced her against the bed curtains. Bai Jiyin's heart jumped, but then she met his bloodshot eyes.

“Every day I was away, I made sure to remember your kindness, Sister.”

*

In her next life, she met him again in the Cold Palace.

With their debts repaid, she intended to keep her distance this time. But fate had other plans, and they kept running into each other.

When his nemesis approached her with a proposal, the terms were too tempting to refuse. She agreed. She had just let in the spy her new partner wanted to plant when she turned around and saw Gu Fuyan arresting the spy.

Under torture, the spy gave her up.

Bai Jiyin's heart leapt. She turned to run, only for a sword to block her path.

A familiar voice came from above her. “You have two choices: betray them, or silence them.”

She swallowed. “...Can I choose neither?”

Gu Fuyan smiled. “What do you think?”

Later, once they had reclaimed their power, she wanted to travel the world. Before leaving, she went to his room to say one last goodbye. But when she looked down, she saw a misspelled word on the page, one she had taught him in her previous life.

Only then did Bai Jiyin realize that he had remembered every grievance and every kindness from their past life.

He caught her hand, his familiar smile tinged with madness. “What is it? Are you going to leave me again, Sister?”

[Reading Guide]

1. Both leads are each other's one and only, happy ending. The possessive pursuit is rooted in affection. The hero never truly hated her; they are actually both devoted to each other.

2. There is more to her betrayal than meets the eye.

3. Church and state are united. An alternate history setting, no need to scrutinize the details.

4. The first life focuses on romance and has a more serious tone. The second life is a dual-strong, plot-driven story with a lighter tone.

The new novel is now available. If you're interested, visit my author page!

Theme: Clear skies and gentle sunshine, peace throughout the land